Method of and machine for operating upon soles



E. E. WINKLEY 1,939,750

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Dec. 19, 1933.

Filed Dec. 20, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 00 MM W E WM 0 l 1 db 5 .1 MM. 1 8 0 8 6 6 60 a Fflw flw wmfl 1 I w 4 x 6 m5 pm,

IIII ll 1933- E. E. WINKLEY 1,939,750

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR OPE RATING UPON SOLES Filed Dec. 20, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l i l x I F1 g. a.

1933' E. E. WINKLEY 1,939,750

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SUI-[Es Filed Dec. 20, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 W Zmgs.

Dec. 19, 1933. E. E. WINKLEY METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Filed Dec. 20, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 19, EY

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Filed Dec. 20, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 i QF Dec. 19, 1933. E w KLEY 1,939,750

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Filed Dec. 20, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 6 m1 ri'l'n/ m Patented Dec. 19, 1933 METHOD OF AND MAGHIN E FOR OPERATING UPQN SOLES Erastus E. Winkley,

Lynn, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 20, 1928 Serial No; 327,339

73 Claims.

This invention relates to a process, and to a machine which operates in accordance with the process, for shaping unattached soles and is herein described as relating to treatment of the shank portions of soles by which they are readily conformed to the shape usually imparted thereto in-the finished shoes.

Sole blanks are commonly died out of a hide, the size of each blank being governed by the requirements of the shoes of which it is to become a part. The sole blank may then be clamped by its fore and heel parts and stretched throughout the shank portion to elongate it; and, iiit is desired, the stretching operation may be accompanied by an operation by Which the marginal portions of the shank of the sole may be additionally stretched beyond the limit of their elastic recovery and to a greater extent than that to which the central portion of the shank has been stretched. The result of the above treatment is the production of a sole, longer than the blank from which it was made, having a shank portion formed substantially to the shape it will assume in the finished shoe. A

. more detailed description of these methods of treating soles and of apparatus for performing them may be obtained by reference to Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,552,608, granted on September 8, 1925, on application Chester Hunt and Frederic E. Bertrand, Letters Patent No. 1,722,294, granted on July 30, 1929, on application of said Hunt and Bertrand, an-cl'Letters Patent No. 1,772,038, granted on August 5, 1930, onapplication of Herman Davenport and N. F. Hopkins.

On account of the variation in quality of spleseven of those out from the same hide-it has'been found that they occasionally emerge from a shank treating operation of the abovedescribed sort with their edges cracked somewhat; and that the extension of the edges of the shank portion of a sole the shank of which is given a regular transverse curvature is often greater than the elasticity of the leather will permit without rupture.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for shaping the shanks of soles by the use of which the work may be finished more rapidly and with a smaller percentage of cripples than has heretofore been possible. In accord.- ance with this object of the invention, an improved process and apparatus described and y shown herein is provided for so treating the shanks of soles that excessive extension of their edge portions so as to cause a rupture therein is avoided. To this end the process is carried out in a novel machine comprising means 'for stretching the shank portion of a sole by increasing amounts across pa shank and at either side of rt of the width of the the central longitudito force the shank portion of the sole against and about a cooperating member, herein termed the shank convex a pattern transversely portion of which is continuously between the fore and heel part sections.

The shank portion of the pattern is bordered at either side by a relatively narrow surface which is substantially parallel to a surface tangent to the uppermost part of the shank portion of the pattern. It will become more apparent as the description of the invention proceeds that the stresses set up in the marginal portion of the shank as above treated are relieved bility of sufliciently to cracking by the eliminate the possisupport provided by the marginal surfaces of the pattern. 7

When, for economy of manufacture, the shanks of soles are appreciably ext ended so that a blank of one size maybe used for the sole of a shoe of a larger size, it is apparent that the elongation of the shank portion is accompanied by a corresponding decrease in its a chan e in the contour of the fore, in contemplation of of a shank upon its width and hence by edges. Therethe change in shape extension when subjected to a stretching operation, a special set of blanking dies for cutting soles from the hide will be required.

It is also apparent that, in cutting sole blanks in relatively'small lots, it would be impracticable to have special blanking dies conis desirable in some instructed. Hence it stances to shape the shank appreciably elongating the operation of shaping the s of the soles without shank portion. The shanks of soles for mens shoes, in which the fore and heel parts of the sole are substantially in the same plane, without appreciably elongating the shank portion, ordinarily entails nogreat difliculty. Such soles may be shaped about a pattern the top surface of which is substantially straight from one extreme to the other However, the heel parts of soles for use in womens shoes having high heels must be displaced relatively to the fore parts a distance substantially equal to the er that they may fit no height of the heel, in ord the lasted shoe and in order that the resilience of the soles will not tend to pull the shoes out of their intended shape; but, so far as applicant is aware, in the operation of machines for shaping soles the heel and fore parts of which are relatively displaced during the shaping operation, the displacement occurs in such a way that the fore and heel parts are separated proportionally as they are displaced, thereby imparting a corresponding extension to the shank between the fore and heel parts.

Accordingly, in another aspect the invention consists in providing a process of, and apparatus for, stretching the shank portion of a sole lengthwise at either side of its central longitudinal axis to impart a transverse curvature thereto without stressing or stretching the axial portion lengthwise thereof, the fore part and heel part of the sole being disposed obliquely to the shank and constrained against relative movement lengthwise of the sole. To this end the illustrated machine is provided with clamps for gripping the fore part and heel part of a sole and means for controlling the distance between said clamps as they are relatively displaced to shape the shank and sole longitudinal- 1y. This means comprises apparatus so constructed and arranged that, upon displacement of the clamps so that the shank portion of the sole is obliquely disposed to either or both the fore and heel part, the distance between the clamps may remain constant. Although, as above pointed out, the mechanism may thus be operated to shape the shank without bodily extending it, the means for controlling the distance between the clamps as they are relatively displaced may also be adjusted to decrease the distance between the clamps as they are relatively displaced, and also to increase the distance between the clamps to produce a result similar to that attained by use of the machine disclosed in the above-mentioned Davenport and Hopkins patent.

When the illustrated machine is used for operating uponsoles for mens shoes in which there is little longitudinal curvature, the conforming tool moves relatively to the pattern to shape the shank thereabout, in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto. It is apparent that in such a case the conforming tool will naturally'be seated squarely against the pattern. However, when the shank portion of the sole is disposed obliquely to the fore and heel parts, as is the case when soles for womens shoes are being operated upon, the conforming tool approaches the shank of the sole and the corresponding part of the pattern in a direction which is oblique to the general direction of the shank portions of the sole and pattern. In view of the desirability of having the conforming tool seat squarely against the shank portions of the sole and pattern irrespective of their relative position, another object of the invention is to pro vide means for conforming the shank of the sole to the pattern constructed and arranged to seat itself flatly on the shank irrespective of its direction of motion with respect to the shank and pattern during the conforming operation. To this end the conforming tool comprises a work engaging element pivoted to the conforming tool body about two axes, thereby allowing the work engaging element of the conforming tool to be disposed squarely against the shank portion of the sole and pattern, even though they are disposed at an angle to the direction of motion of the conforming tool.

The illustrated machine in which the invention is embodied comprises two sets of operating instrumentalities for shaping soles constructed and arranged to be operated so that, when one operating instrumentality is shaping the work, the other is in position to receive a blank and vice versa. Thus, it is apparent that the operators time during the period when a sole is being shaped would be wasted if only one set of instrumentalities were used, and that, by the provision of a machine having two sets of operating instrumentalities alternately effective to shape the work, the output of a single operator is substantially increased.

In the illustrated machine, that element of the clamping mechanism which supports the pattern, and the cooperating clamping element, are constructed and arranged for relative advance to clamp the work and for relative separation to facilitate placing the sole on the pattern. To facilitate placing the blank on that part of the clamping mechanism which supports the pattern, it is withdrawn relatively to the other clamping element from the position it occupies when clamping a sole by being swung forwardly and toward the operator. Thus, in its blank receiving position the pattern and the clamp which supports it are so disposed with respect to the rest of the machine that a sole blank may be placed thereon in an unobstructed path the direction of which is perpendicular to the face of the clamp and the pattern.

Although, nominally, shoes of the same width size but of different lengths are presumed to be of the same actual width and shoes of the same length size but of different widths are presumed to be of the same actual length as a matter of practice this is not true. In order that shoes of the same style or class may be identified as such irrespective of their size, it is obvious that their general proportions must be substantially the same. Hence, as a matter of practice the soles of all sizes for the same style or class of shoes are substantially geometrically similar and, therefore, as between soles of different sizes, the differences of length and the differences of width are substantially proportional.

Although different patterns are required for classes of work which vary widely, it is desired that only one pattern be used for various sizes of soles of the same class. However, if one pattern is to be used for various sizes of soles of the same class, the soles must be so placed on the pattern that their respective axes are substantially coincident and that their longitudinal centers are alined. To facilitate positioning the soles on the pattern in this way and in accordance with another feature of the invention, means adapted to contact with the sole edge at an end and side thereof is provided in the illustrated machine by one rectilinear adjustment of which the position of soles on the pattern are accurately limited bot-h longitudinally and widthwise of the pattern. This means comprises a gage mechanism for positioning the sole properly on the pattern which is mounted for movement in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis of the sole and pattern and is positioned upon movement of the part of the clamping means which supports the pattern to its sole receiving position.

Since the length and width of various sizes of soles of the same style vary proportionately between different sizes as it has been pointed out above the gage mechanism may be operated to gage a sole both longitudinally and widthwise of the pattern by one movement if the direction of this movement of the gaging element is at such an angle to the longitudinal axis of the sole that the tangent of the angle is equal to the ratio of the increase in width to the increase of length between successive sizes of soles. It may thus be seen that a gage mechanism so constructed and adjusted will compensate for the lengthi extension accompanying corresponding width extensions of soles simultaneously.

These and other features of the invention, including various novel constructions and arrangements of parts, will appear more fully from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing the machine with certain parts broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section along the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with parts in section, of the clamping mechanism for operating the heel part clamp and driving mechanism therefor;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the fore part clamping mechanism, showing also the manner in which it is mounted in the frame;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4 and illustrates the mechanism for providing a parallel motion for the fore part clamping mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a work clamping mechanism oscillated to its blank receiving position and operating means therefor;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational View, partly in section, of the clamping mechanism, showing mechanism for displacing the heel part clamp with respect to the fore part clamp;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of one of the work clamps and the conforming tool shown in the positions occupied immediately after a conforming operation has been performed on a sole or a womans shoe;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the pattern used for shaping soles for womens shoes;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view showing the conforming tool with driving means therefor and a cooperating work clamp and pattern of the type used for operating on soles for mens shoes; I

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view showing the relation of the parts of the conforming tool when it is in its lowermost position when operating upon soles for womens shoes;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view along the line XII- XII of Fig. 1 showing a conforming tool cooperating with an improved form of pattern;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a gage mechanism used in connection with the fore part clamp;

Fig. 14 shows in perspective a form of pattern and conforming tool for shaping soles for mens shoes;

Fig. 15 illustrates an arrangement of from which the gages are adjusted;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a modification of the scale arrangement shown in 15; and

Fig. 17 is a perspective view'of an additional scale arrangement.

scales The illustrated machine for conforming the shank portions of unattache soles described herein comprises two sets of operating instrumentalities, only one of which beenffully illustrated in Fig. 1. Unless otnerwisenoted, it is to be understood in connection with the description which is to follow that all parts referred to, excepting the frame elements and certain parts of the driving mechanism, occur in duplicate and are geometrically similarly placed the machine.

In operating on sol s for mens shoes, a pattern 20 such as shown in Fig. 1 is used, the fore and heel parts of which are supported by clamp tables 22 and 24, respectively. The pattern 20 is held in position on the clamp tables 22 and 24 by dowels 26 (Figs. 2 and 3), firmly seated in the ciamp tables and extending into complemental recesses in the bottom of the pattern. Integral with and extending downwardly from the heel part clamp table 24 are legs 28 and 30 (Fig. 1) at thelower ends of which they are supported by a pin 32 (Figs. 2 and 3) fixed at the top of a support 3a. The support 34 is fixed to a guide rod 36 which is arrangedfor axial movement, being supported at its upper end by a bearing 38 extending at either side from the central web 40 of the upper frame 42 of themachine. At its lower end the guide rod is slidably engaged in a complementary hole 14 in the lower panel 46 of the upper frame 42. The support 34 may be held stationary or reciprocated axially by a mechanism to be later described. A pair of levers 48, one at each side of the support 34,

are pivoted to the pin 32 atone end and at the other to a pin 56 to which is also pivotally connected the lower link 52 of a toggle 52-54. The upper end of the toggle link 54 is pivoted to a clamp jaw 56 by a pin 58 fixed in the upper end of the clamp jaw which is held relatively fixed to a guide rod 69 mounted for axial reciprocation at its upper end in a bearing 62 in the head 64 of the upper frame 42 and at its lower end in a bearing '76 inthe lower panel 46. The levers48 are fulcrumcd between their ends on a trunnion block 65 mounted to slide on the guide rod 60 and resting on a helical spring 68 s *rrounding the guide rod 60.

To the joint of the toggle 52-54 is pivotally connected an adjustable connecting rod 94 pivoted at its other end to one end of a lever 96 rotatably mounted on a shaft 103 which is supported at both ends and at the center by the upper frame 42; as shown in Fig. 1. To the lower end of the lever 96 is attached a rod 98 connecting it with another similar lever 109 (Fig. i) also pivoted on the shaft 108 and connected to a to 'le 1u2-104 by a connecting rod 166 for operating the fore part clamping. mechanism.- The toggles 52-5l and 102-104 are straightened and broken through their respective connecting rods and clamp lev rs by an oscillating bell crank (Fig.- 3) pinned to a shaft 112 which is rotatahly supported at each end in bearings 11 i (Fig. 1) in the upper part ofa lower'frame 116. The arm 118 (Fig. 3) of the bell crank lever 110 remote from the clamping levers carries at its outer extremity a roll 120 rotatably mounted on a stud 122 fixed to the arm 118. The roll 120 engages a cam track 124 in a cam 125 which is keyed to a shaft 128 rotatably mounted in bearings 130 at each side of the lower frame 116. Only one cam 124 is included in the machine for operating the clamping mechanism in both operating instrumentalities each of which comprises a bell-crank driven from the common shaft 112 for operating their respective clamping mechanisms.

The helical spring 68 is supported by a sleeve 70 (Fig. 3) which may be adjusted longitudinally along the guide rod by means of a nut 72 threaded on the end of the guide rod 60. The nut 72 is provided at its lower end with a series of perforations 74 into which an implement may be inserted to facilitate the adjustment of the position of the sleeve along the guide rod 60 and hence the compression of the spring 68. In order that the heel part clamp jaw 56 shall not rotate with respect to the frame, it is provided at its lower end with a bifurcated bracket 78 which surrounds the guide rod 36, whichis mounted only for axial movement. The bracket 78 by engagement with the rod 36 prevents'the clamp jaw 56 on the guide rod 60 from rotating in either direction from its desired position.

The heel part clamp jaw 56 and a fore part clamp jaw 80 are provided with face blocks 82, 84, (Fig. 1) respectively, which are slidably held upon the lower clamping faces of the clamp jaws 56 and 80, respectively, by T-shaped, dovetailed connections 86. The clamp face blocks are held on the clamp jaws by buttons 88 pivotally mounted thereon and which may be swung downwardly to prevent the face blocks from being removed, or swung upwardly, to allow the clamp faces to be pulled off the dovetailed connections 86. A strip of rubber or other resilient material 90 is secured to the opposite extremes of the clamp face blocks and is stretched therebetween to provide a gripping and non-marring work engaging face for the clamp jaws.

The marginal portions of the fore and heel part clamp tables are provided with channels 91 which collect whatever fluid may be squeezed from tempered soles when they are subjected to clamping pressure. The fluid is conducted from the channel in the fore part clamp table by means of a tube 93 (Fig. 4) the lower end of which is fastened to one side of an arm 226 and terminates slightly above the bottom panel 46 of the upper frame 4. Similarly, the tube 95 (Fig.2) delivers the fluid collected by the heel part clamp table to the bottom panel 46. As shown in Fig. 2, the bottom panel is dished and is provided at the lowest portion thereof with a drain comprising a pipe 97 which is tapped into the bottom panel and which terminates at its other end slghtly above the bottom panel of the lower frame 116. The bottom panel of the lower frame is also dished, thereby insuring that the fluid delivered by the pipe 97 will be collected at one spot in the base of the machine away from the operating parts thereof The shaft 128 is driven by a gear 132 (Fig. 1) which is keyed thereto and which, in turn, is driven by a' gear 134 which is fixed to a sleeve 136 (Figs. 1 and 3) rotatably mounted on a shaft 138 fixedly supported in bearings 140 at the ends of the lower frame 116 and at the middle by a bearing 142 which is supported by a web 144 integral with the bottom panel 146 of the lower frame. The sleeve 136 may be en gaged with and disengaged from a gear 148, freely rotatable about the shaft 138, by a clutch mechanism 150. A counter-shaft 152 carries at one end a pinion 154 which meshes with the clutch gear 148 and carries at the other end another gear 156. The shaft 152 is mounted for rotation in bearings 153 one of which is in one side of the lower frame and the other of which is integral with the central web 144 supported by the bottom panel of the lower frame. Extending inwardly from the right-hand side of the frame as seen in Fig. 1, is a bearing 158 which rotatably supports a drive shaft 160 (Fig. 3) having pinned at the inner end thereof a pinion 162 which meshes with the gear 156. The shaft 160 at its outer end may be connected to a source of power-by any suitable means. The above-described gearing, together with a clutch mechanism to be described, constitutes a speed reduction drive and means whereby only one revolution of the shaft 128 carrying the cam which operates the clamping mechanism will result from a single actuation of the treadle, as will presently be described.

Springs 164, when permitted to do so, urge the clutch element 150 to the right as shown in Fig. 1, thereby effecting a driving connection between the gear 148 and the sleeve 136. The clutch element 156 is released so that the springs 164 may operate to establish a driving connection, as above stated, by depression of a treadle 166 which is pivoted to a stud 168 fixed in the web 144. The treadle 186 is, in effect, a bell crank. and pivotally connected to the upright arm 170 thereof is a connecting rod 172 (Figs. 1 and 2). The connecting rod is pivotally attached to a catch 174 having notched lower end 176 which engages the upper surface of the flattened end 178 of a T-shaped bell crank 180. The upstanding arm of the bell crank 180 has an end comprising two forks 182 (Fig. 2) each of which pivotally supports a sector 184 which is received within a peripheral groove 186 of the clutch element. The upper end of the catch 174 is pivoted at 188 to a lever 180 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 192 rotatably mounted in bearings 194 at each side of the lower frame. A roll 196 is mounted on the end of the arm 190 and is adapted to engage the surface of a cam 198 which is keyed to the shaft 128, which has been described as supporting the earn 126 for driving the clamping mechanism. When the treadle 166 is depressed, the lower end of the catch 174 is pulled off the end 178 of the lefthand arm of the bell crank 180, thereby releasing it and allowing the springs 164 to force the clutch element 150 to the right as seen in Fig. 1, and to effect a driving connection between the gear 148 and the .sleeve 136. The shaft 128 is thus caused to rotate, driving the cam 126 to 01.- erate the clamping mechanism. As a full revolution of the shaft 128 is about to be completed, the roll 196 on the lever 190 which is held against the face of the cam 198 by a spring 199 fixed to the lever 190, rises into the recess in 135 the cam, thereby lifting the catch 174. When the catch 174 is thus lifted to its highest posi tion, its notched end 178 again engages the fiattened end 178 of the left-hand arm of the bell crank 180 and, upon further rotation of the shaft 128 and hence the cam 198, the latter imparts a counterclockwise rotation to the lever 190 as the roll 196 rides out of the cam recess, thereby pushing the catch 1'74 downwardly and the upstanding arm 180 of the bell crank in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) to disengage the clutch. The friction between the moving parts of the machine is sufficient to stop it immediately upon disengagement of the clutch.

It is desirable frequently to be able to stop the 150 222 which is threaded to the lower end of the machine at any stage of its operation. To this end the machine is provided with a treadle 200 pivoted at 202 to an upstanding lug 2G4 integral with the bottom panel of the lower frame 116. The inner end 206 of the treadle 280 engages the end of the right-hand arm 268 of the bell crank lever 180. It is apparent, then, that at any stage of the operation of the machine it may be' stopped by the depression of the treadle 200, which causes the upstanding arm "180 of the bell crank to be'rotated in a' counterclockwise direction, thereby disengaging the clutch. Si-

multaneously the left-hand arm of the bell crank lever is lowered and again becomes engagedbe neath the notched end of the catch 174 which must be released again before the operation of the machine can be resumed. Springs 209 sufficiently strong to counteract the weight of the treadles tend'to hold them in their uppermost position.

Having described the apparatus for giving one revolution for each depression of the treadle to the main drive shaft 128 and the cam 126, the operation of the clamping mechanism driven by this cam will next be described. Upon eachfull revolution of the cam 126 'the bell crank 110 moves from the position in which' itis shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 and back again, thereby straightening'andbreaking the toggles 5254 and 102- 104.- During the movement of the lower link 52 of the heel part toggle mechanism to its straightened position, the levers 48 are rotated about their fulcrum on the trunnion block,66, thereby raising the pin32 and therefore the clamp table 24 The partsof the clamping mechanism are so'proportioned that when the clamp is closed firmly'to hold the work the trunnion block 66is slightly against the pressure of the spring 68.

nut 72 on the lower end of the guide rod and that a variation in the thickness of the work will not cause the clamping'mechanism to be any the less effective.

104 is straightened, levers 210, one at each side of a guide rod 212 which alines the fore part clamping mechanism vertically,'are rotated inf a clockwise direction with respect to a sliding trunnion block 214 mounted 'on the guide rod 212 and about a pin 216 which pivotally connects the outer ends of the levers 210 and the legs of the fore part clamping table 218, thus bringing the clamping elements into I engagement with the work. The guide rodfor the fore part clamping mechanism is also surrounded by a helical spring 220 the compression of which exerted against block 214 may be adjusted by rotating a nut guide rod 212 and bears against the lower end of the spring 220. The nut 22 is also. perforated at its lower end to receive an imple-.

ment to facilitate its adjustment, .as shown in Fig. 4. The fore part clamping mechanism is supported by the pin 216 which i is carried by a displaced the sliding trunnion f yoke 224 rotatably supported in an arm 226 which is integral with a sleeve 228 supported by a rod 230 bearing at each end in the upper frame. The parts of the fore part clamping mechanism are also so proportioned that when a sole is clamped therebetween the trunnion block 214 is slightly separated from the lower end of the clamp jaw to compress the spring 220, thereby providing a resilient clamping pressure for the fore part of the sole.

When the illustrated machine is being used for shaping soles for mens shoes, in which case a pattern similar-to that shown in Figs. 1 and 10 or that in Fig. 14 is used, the fore part and heel part clamp tables are operated simultaneously and in the same way. 'As soon as the clamp tables have, been operated firmly to clamp the sole, the conforming tool is operated to shape the shank of the sole about the pattern. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 10, the conforming tool comprises a shank 232 slidably supported in a bearing 234 in the head 64 of the upper frame. The conforming tool shank 232 is provided atits lower extremity with a dovetailed Work engaging element 242 may be adjusted.

widthwise of the pattern 20 by rotation of a screw 244 between the threads of which a lug 246 on the slide 238 is engaged. The screw 244 may be turned by a thumb lever 248 which also provides a closure for the recess in which the screw is seated. A spring-pressed plunger 250 is adapted to engage any of a series of recessesin the back surface of the screw to.

hold it many desired position of adjustment.

I i A slot 25 1-extending longitudinally of the screw It may therefore be seen that the clamping pres sure may be regulated by the adjustment of the allows the slide 238 to be removed readily when the screw is turned to aline the slot and the lug 246. Movement is imparted to the conforming tool through a lever 252 both ends of which j are forked. At one end it is pivoted on a pin 25410 the shankfof the conforming tool and at the other end is fulcrumed by a pin 256 to the lower end of a link 258 pivotallymounted on a pin 260 in the head 64 of the upper frame 42. A clevis 262 is pivoted on the pin 264 to the mid portion of the lever 252. A connecting rod 2661s threaded at one end into the lower end "of the clevis 262 and held in the desired position by a check nut 268. threaded to the lower end of the rod 266 and is prevented from rotation with respect .thereto by a check nut 272. The connecting rod 266,

A block 270 is i and hence the conforming tool, is operated by an oscillating arm 274 carrying a roll 276 rotatably mounted on a stud 278 fixed to the arm 274. The roll 276 is received within a track 280,1n a cam 282 which is keyed to the main i drive shaft 128. In order that the effective throw of the cam may be varied, the lower end of the connecting rod 266 may be adjusted with respect to the arm 274. To this end the block 270 is pivotally mounted on a cross-head 284 which is slidably and adjustably received in an arcuate slot 286 in the arm 274. In order that the cross-head 284 may be moved into any position in the slot 286, it rotatably supports a nut 288 into which is thre'adedan adjusting screw 29Q. having on its outer end a hand-wheel 292 by which it may be turned to move the cross-head 284 to any desired position. The screw 290 is prevented from moving axially by cooperating shoulders 294 and 296 on the screw and hand-wheel respectively. These shoulders abut opposite sides of a pin 298 rotatably mounted in the outer end of an extension 300 of the arm 274. By means of the above-described mechanism the conforming tool maybe given one complete reciprocation from its upper position, as shown in Fig. 1, downwardly, until it has forced the shank portion of the sole firmly against and about the corresponding part of the pattern, and back again to the retracted position upon one revolution of the cam 282. This movement of the conforming tool occurs during the time when the sole is held firmly gripped by the clamping mechanism. As soon as the conforming tool has been retracted, the conforming operation having been completed, the clamping mechanism is operated to release the sole, and the fore. and heel part clamp tables are relatively separated from the corresponding clamp jaws; thereafter the fore and'heel part clamp tables carrying the pattern are rotated forwardly, as shown at the right in Fig. 1, about the pins 216 and'32, respectively,

in order to facilitate the operation of removing the conformed sole from the pattern and placing a blank to be operated upon in the machine.

The means for swinging the clamp tables to the blank receiving position comprises a double armed bell crank, one arm 302 (Fig. 6) of which carries a laterally extending pin 306 adapted for engagement within an elongated slot304 in the leg 30 of the heel part clamp table. By

means of a yoke 310 the arm 3021s connected to an arm 308 which has at its upper end an elongated slot 312. A rod 314 extendsthrough. the slot 312 in the arm 308 of the bell crank and is prevented from axial movementwith respect to the arm 308 by collars 316 (Fig. l).- The fore part clamp table 22 is slidably mounted, for reasons to be explained hereinafter, on the rod 314. Also effectually integral with the arms 302 and 308 is an arm 318 to which is pivotedat its outer end a rod 319 having a clevis 320 adjustably fixed to its lower end. The. clevis is pivoted at 322 to one arm 324 of a bell crank which is rotatably supported by the rod192 journaled at each end in the bearings 194 (Fig. 1) in the sides of the lower frame. The other arm 326 of the bell crank carries at its outer end a roll 328 rotatablymounted on a stud330 fixed to the end of the arm 326. The roll 328 is engaged in a track 332 of a cam 334 which-is The sleeve 336' fixed to a sleeve 336 (Fig. l). is rotatably mounted on the shaft 138" and is driven by a pinion 340 on the end of the shaft 128 through an idler gear 342 which meshes with both the gears 340 and 338. The idler 342.

is rotatably mounted on a studshaft 344 (Fig. 2) fixed in the left-hand side of the lower frame as seen in Fig. 1. A cam 335 identical to the cam 334 is keyed to the sleeve 336 but is rotatedthrough an angle of 180degrees with respect'to cam 334. The work clamping tables of the operating instrumentality partially shown at the right in Fig. l are oscillated by means of the cam 335 through an arm 33'? one end of which engages the cam track of the cam 335 and the other of which is pinned to the shaft 192. An arm 339 is also pinned to the shaft 192 and is connected to the clamping tablemechanism of the partially illustrated operating instrumentality by the connecting rod 341.

When the operation of the machine is stopped by the one-revolution clutch mechanism, one

which they are shown-- in Fig. 2 when the work clamping operation is about to be started.

The above. description refers to one set of instrumentalities for operating upon soles for mens shoes but, as stated above, the illustrated machine provides two sets of instrumentalities for performing the shank shaping operation, the coordination of which will be more fully described later.

When soles for womens shoes are to be'operated upon, in which case the heel parts of the soles are tobe displaced appreciably with respect to the fore parts, a pattern such as that shown in Fig.9 is used The shank portion 346 is pivotally attached,.byv means of a pin 348, to the fore part of the pattern which is supported by the fore part clamp table 22 and is alined thereonby means of thedowel 26 engaging a recess in its lower face as above described in connection with the pattern for use in operating upon soles for-mens shoes. The heel part 352- of the pattern is located in a similar manner upon the heel part clampingv table and is provided at one end witha recess- 354 into which extends the reduced end 356 ofthe shank portion of the pattern whichis supported by the upper face of the heel partclampingtable. When a blank ispresented to the machine to which the pattern shown in Fig. 9 is attached, the faces of its fore and heel part portions aresubstantially in the same plane. This relation is maintained while the clamp tables are swung to the clamping position from blank receiving position and until the sole blank has been firmly gripped by the clampingmechanism. However, as soon as the sole blank has been gripped, the heel part clamptable and the corresponding clamp jaw are bodily dropped a distance substantially equal to the height of the heel of the shoe for whichthe soleis intended. Simultaneously with the lowering of the heel part clamping mechanism, the conforming tool'is also reciprocated downwardly but at a greater rate than the movement of the heel partclamping mechanism, so that: when the heell part clamping mechanism has reachedits lowest position, the conforming tool alsohas reached its lowest position and the sole blankis pressed firmly against and about the shankportionof the pattern.

As has been stated above, the foreand heel part clampingmechanisms are so constructed above described, the heel part clamping mechanism iscapable only of a vertical reciprocation, it is necessary that the fore part clamping mechanism be capable of being displaced laterally relatively to the heelpart clamping mechanism. Also, in order that the sole blank shall notbe distortedduring the relative lateral movement of the clamping mechanisms, it is necessarythat the clamping mechanisms be main- 360 (Fig. 5) to the outer end 382 is pivoted by means of a bolt 384. At a dis-.

and the center .guide rod 212 (Fig. 4) which supports the fore part clamping mechanism is rotatably mounted at its upper end in an arm 358 and at its lower end in the yoke 224 which is rotatably supported in the arm 226. .The arms 358 and 226 are integral with the sleeve 228 which is rotatably mounted on the rod 230. The fore part clamping mechanism, being rotatable about the rod 230 as anaxis, may therefore be. adjusted longitudinally of the sole with respect to the heel part clamping mechanism. In order accurately to control the distance between the two clamping mechanisms, additional means is provided for adjustably limiting the distance between the clamping mechanisms and which also determines the extent of their separation when in the position of their greatest relative displacement. This means comprises a connecting link 360 (Fig. 1) which is attached to both the heel and the fore part clamping mechanisms. The connecting link 360 is attached to the heel part mechanism through a universal joint 362 which may be adjustably secured by means of a bolt 364 in any position in an arcuate slot 366 in, a

bracket368 which is secured to jaw of the heel part mechanism by the clamping bolts 370. At

its other end the connecting link 360 is attached 372, thereby adjusting the distance between the fore and heel part clamping mechanisms.

If it is desired to elongate the shank of the soleupon relative displacement of the fore and heel part clamps, the universal connection 362 ofthe connecting link 360 is clamped to the bracket 368 in the upper part of the arcuate slot 366. When the heel part clamp is lowered with the connecting link thus adjusted, the fore part clamp is moved away from the heel part clamp, since the connecting link, by such a motion, is brought toward a horizontal position n which the heel and fore part clamps are separated by the greatest distance for any one adjustment of the fore part clamp with respect to the slide 37. If it is desired that the shank of the sole shall not be stretched, the connecting link 360 is adjusted to substantially the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. If, however, it is desired to diminish the distance between the fore and heel part clamps upon. their relative displacement, the link 360 may be adjusted so that the universal connection 362 is clamped at the lower part of the slot 366, as illustrated in Fig. 8. When the heel part clamping mechanism is lowered, thereby moving the fore part clamping mechanism by means of the connecting link 360, the fore part clamping mechanism moves longitudinally of 230 as above described.

To insure the substantial alinement longitudinally of the sole of the fore and heel part clamping mechanisms during their relative. displacement, the yoke 224, a part of the fore part clamping mechanism, is provided with a lug of which a link tance from the center of the bolt 384 equal to that between the center of the guide rod 230 of the guide rod 212, the-link the sole about the guide 382 is bored to receive a stub shaft'386 spaced from the guide rod 230 a distance equal to the distance between the center or" the guide rod 212 and the center of the bolt 384. Therefore upon a rotation of the sleeve 228 carrying therewith the arms 358 and 226, successive positions of the yoke 224 are mutually parallel and therefore successive positions of a line between any two points on the yoke are mutually parallel. The yoke 224 supports a pin 388 which extends between the sides of a bifurcated lug 390 ex-- tending laterally from the lower end of the fore part clamping jaw 80. Since a line between the center of the pin 388 and the center of the shaft 212 assumes positions which are mutually parallel upon rotation of the sleeve 228, it is apparent that similar successive positions of the clamp jaw will likewise be in a parallel relation. The forward end of the yoke 224 is bifurcated and between the bifurcations 392 is disposed the lever 100 which is moved along its support 108 as the fore part clamping mechanism is moved.

The mechanism for dropping the heel part clamping mechanism comprises a lever 394 (Fig. 7) which is pivoted'to the support 34 by means of the pin 396. An arm 398 is pivoted to the rod 112 and provides an adjustable fulcrum at its upper end for the lever 394 the end of which remote from the support 34 is pivotally connected by a pin 400 to a link 402 which is pivoted to another link 404 by a pin 406, mounted in the end of which is a roll for engaging a track 408 in a cam 410. The link 404 is pivoted also to the shaft 112, thereby restraining the movement of the roll engaged by the cam track 488 in an arcuate path about the shaft 112 as a center. It is apparent that upon rotation of the cam 410 which is driven by the shaft 128 that the lever 394 will be oscillated about the end of the arm 398 as a fulcrum, thereby reciprocating the support 34 and hence the entire heel part clamping mechanism. It, may be noted that during a reciprocation of the heel part clamp ing mechanism, which occurs, of course, while the sole is clamped, the adjustable connecting,

It is apparent, therefore, that the dropping of the heel part clamping mechanism does not affect the gripping of a sole blank. In order to vary the distance'by which the heel part mechanism is lowered or dropped, the fulcrum for the lever 394 is adjustable as above stated. To provide this adjustment, a screw 412 is threaded into a pin 4l4 rotatably supported in the fulcrum arm 398 and is also journaled in a bearing 416 rotatably mounted in the web 40 of the upper frame of the machine. The inner end of the hub of a hand-wheel 418, which is pinned to the screw 412, prevents axial displacement of the screw with respectto the bearing 416 in one direction while a collar 420 prevents axial displacement of the screw 412 with respect to the bearing 416 in the opposite direction. It parent from 2 and 'I that by turning the hand-wheel 418 and hence the screw 412 the fulcrum arm 398 maybe moved from one of its extreme positions, as shown in Fig. 2, in a clockwisedirection until the efiective fulcrum is coincident with the axis of the pin 396 and in which is apposition the lever 394 may be oscillated without imparting any movement whatever to the heel part clamping mechanism which, under these circumstances, is in vertical alinement with the fore part clamping mechanism. This mechanism is so adjusted when patterns such as those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 14 are used.

For convenience in manufacture the illustrated machine has been so designed that only one cam for operating the clamping mechanism of both instrumentalities and one cam for operating the heel part lowering mechanism of both instrumentalities are required; but structural characteristics of the machine forbid the use of only one cam for operating the conforming mechanisms. However, in order that the length of stroke of both conforming tools may be adjusted simultaneously and to the same extent, sprockets 297 are provided on the hand-wheels 292 of the conforming tool adjusting mechanism which are mutually driven by a chain 25-39 running between them. As above stated, the cams for operating the clamping table oscillating mechanism are identical but relatively rotated by 180 degrees upon their driving shaft, but the cams on the shaft 128 are designed to provide a complete cycle of events upon a full revolution. Therefore, in order properly to synchronize the clamping, conforming, and table oscillating movements, the sleeve S36 carrying the cams 334 and 335, corresponding events of which are separated by 1-30 degrees, must be driven at one half the speed of the shaft 123. This speed ratio is secured through the gears 340 and 338, the gear 340 being one half the diameter of the gear 338. It is now apparent that for each revolution of the shaft 128 the clamping and conforming mechanisms are operated through a complete cycle, but only one operating instru 'mentality at a time is effective to clamp and shape the work and it is that instrumentality the work clamping tables of which have been oscillated to a vertical position such as that shown in Fig; 2 that is operative. While the work clamping tables of that instrumentality the parts of which in work receiving posi tion are osciliated'i'orwardly, as shown at the right of 1 and indicated in Fig. oythe work clamping and conforming mechanisms of that same instrumentality are being operated, but since the work clamping tables are now located out of the path of the conforming tool and the corresponding work clamping jaws, the lastmentioned elements merely go through their movements idly. Thus successive rotations of the clamping, conforming and heel lowering cams alternately operate the instrumentalities effectively to act on the work.

In order that the conforming tool shall abut the shank portion of the sole squarely, even though the sole shank has been disposed obliquely to thc'direction of motion of the con forming tool by the relative displacement of the clamping mechanisms, it may be constructed substantially as shown Fig. 11, illustrating a preferred construction of this type. A shield 422 is adapted to retain resilient work engaging element 424 and is retained in a plate 426 by a T-slot connection 428 allowing lateral adjustment of the shield and work engaging element. Pivoted to one end of the plate 426 by means of a pin 430 is a link 432 which may be received in a recess in the body portion 434 of the conforming tool 436. The body portion 434 is mounted for limited lateral swinging movement on a stud 437 which allows the element-- 424 to seat itself squarely against the worklaterally. The link 432 is also pivoted by means of a pin 438 to the lower extreme of the conforming tool. A helical spring 440 is connected at one end to the plate 426 and at its otherend to the body 434 of the conforming'tool normally to rock the plate 426 about an abutment 442 until a hook 444, the lower endof' which surrounds the pin 430, engages a stop 446 in the conforming tool. In thispositionth' work engaging element of the conforming tool is substantially horizontal. It is apparent from an inspection of Fig. 11 that the link 432 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction until its top abuts the under surface of the'shank" of the conforming tool. This rotation will permit the work engaging face of the conforming tool to assume an oblique position, as it engages the sole, corresponding to the inclination of the shank of the sole being operated upon. If,-

however, the inclination of the shank portion of the sole being operated upon is greater than the rotation of the link 432 alone will compensate for, the plates 426, and hence the work clamp portions (Figs. 9 and 12) Bordering each' side of the convex work engaging face of the shank portion of the pattern is a shoulder 448 the vertical projection of which (Fig. 9) is substantially parallel to that of the uppermost face of the shank portion of the pattern 346. It will be apparent from Fig. 9 that the shank of the sole held firmly about the pattern will be uniformly curved about the central portion of the pattern, and that the marginal portions of the shankv will be curved in a reverse direction and will take the approximate direction of the shoulders 448. Thus, if the heel and fore part clamping mechanisms are so adjusted that, as they are displaced, the distance therebetween is not increased, the axial portion of the shank of the sole receives no stretching but the shank stretched by increasing amounts at each side of its axis up to those portions which 'abut the shoulders 448 on the shank pattern 346. From the inner boundary of the marginal portion of the shank to its outer edge the shank is stretched by substantially equal amounts, since successive increments of width of the marginal portions have been displaced equal amounts from their original position in alinement with the fore and heel parts of the sole blank.

It is, of course, desirable that the machine be so constructed that a small number of patternswill serve for all sizes and classes of work.

portion of the shank is stretched substantially- Changes in the style of shoes are made'largely by varying the proportions of only the fore part, although such changes may be accompanied by relatively slighter changes in the shank portion. These changes may comprise either a variation in the contour of the edges or a change in the general direction of the shank with respect to the fore part, or a combination of both. However the variations are made, they are but slight in the shank, and since only the shank portion of the sole is operated upon in the illustrated machine, if the respective. shank portions of the pattern and soles canbe accurately alined both lengthwise and widthwise thereof irrespective of their size and style, the same pattern will serve a relatively wide variety of soles. To this end the illustrated machine is provided with a gage mechanism to assist in accurately positioning the sole blanks on the pattern. By the use of a gage mechanism such as is disclosed herein it has been found necessary to have only one pattern for each class of work, the gage mechanism being so constructed and arranged that soles of the same class irrespective of their size will be so placed on the pattern that their respective shank portions are in alinement both longitudinally and widthwise thereof. The heel parts of soles for womens shoes having wood heels do not have the same contour as the attaching face of the heel but are cut straight across at the back for the sake of economy in producing the sole, since it is undesirable and, in fact, unnecessary that the sole be visible throughout its length. Such soles, when operated upon in the present machine, are gagedlongitudinally at the toe portion by a finger 450 (Fig. 13) which is pivotally mounted on a pin 452 carried by an extension 454 of the body 456 of a gage. Another pin 458 fixed to the extension 454 supports the finger 450 slightly above the fore part pattern 350. The sole is gaged widthwise of the pattern by means of an abutment comprising a piece of resilient tubing 460 through which are inserted two wire loops 462 fixed to bolts 464 and 466 which are carried by a block 468. The loops 462 are bent resiliently to stretch the tubing 460 vertically, as shown in Fig. 13, and also are collapsible so as not to interfere with the clamping elements. when they are brought together, and to prevent the gage abutment from being firmly gripped by the clamping elements. The block 468 may be adjustcd perpendicularly to the axis of the sole blank by means of a set screw 470 which is received in a slot 472 in the block 468 and which is threaded into a place 474. In order to facilitate the removal of the pattern from the face of the clamp table, both the finger 450 and the abutment 460 may be rotated backwardly. This rotation is provided for in the case of the abut ment 460 by mounting the plate 474 pivotally on a pin 476 fixed to the body 456. A helical spring 478 surrounding the rod and abutting its outer end normally urgesthe plate 474 so that one end is received in a recess 480 in the body 456, thereby locking the plate in its operative position. However, if it is desired to rotate the abutment 460 so that the pattern maybe readily removed from the clampingtable, it is necessary only to move the plate 474 to the right, as shown in Fig. 13, against the compression of the spring 478 until the plate is free of the recess 480, when it may be rotated'at will in a counterclockwise direction. 7

As pointed out above, dimensions of various soles for the same class of shoes vary substantially proportionally irrespective of the size of wise and widthwise thereof simultaneously, thegage body 456 is mounted on a pin 482 having a T-shaped head which engages and slides in a slideway 484 the angle of which with respect to the axis of the sole is such that, when the gage body 456 is moved longitudinally to accommodate a change in length of soles, the abutment 460 is also moved widthwise of the sole an amount equal to the corresponding change in width. The slideway 484 is properly adjusted when the tangent of the angle between its axis and the axis of the sole is equal to the ratio of the width extension totthe length extension of soles of the same class but of varying sizes. The adjustment of the slideway 484 is provided by pivotally mounting it at one end by a pin 486 on a support 488-which is pinned to the rod.314,

thereby holding it against longitudinal move-' ment. The slideway 484 is clamped at the end opposite from its pivotal connection with the support 488 by means of a screw 489 which is threaded into a clamp 491 having a hooked end which engages the lower arcuate marginal end of the support 488. The support also engages at its lower end a rod 490 supported at either end by extensions 492 to the legs 218 of the fore part clamping table.

' In the case when the work being operated upon requires the clamping mechanisms to be relatively displaced, and the fore part clamping mechanism is moved lengthwise of the sole, the fore part clamping table slides along the rod 314, the rod being prevented from moving axially; and'the rod 490 which connects the ex tensions 492 on the legs 218 of the fore part clamping table slides in a complementary hole in the lower end of the support 488. It is therefore evident that a relative displacement occurs between the fore part clamping table and the corresponding gage mechanism when the fore and heel part clamping mechanisms are relatively displaced. This relative movement; however, occurs when the work is in clamped position, in which position the rubber tubing abutment 460 is disposed between the clamping elements; but on account of the gage being constructed to collapse as it is clamped, it is not gripped so firmly that it cannot slip between the clamping elements as they are displaced with respect to the gage mechanism which, therefore, is not strained. The gage body 456 is 0perated and maintained in a position of axial alinement with the pattern by a square rod 494 engaging a complementary recess therein. The rod 494 is rotatably carried by a stud 496 firmly fixed by means of a nut 498 to the end of a rock lever 500 which is. pivotally mounted at its mid portion to the support 488 by a bolt 502 (Fig. 4). A roll 504 is rotatably mounted on the end of the rock lever 500 and is adapted to engage either side of a fork 506 (Fig. 1) slidably supported at its vertex 508 on a rod 510 and at the bifurcated ends 512 by a rod 514, both of which rods are supported at their ends by the sides of the upper frame and at their mid portions by the central web thereof. As indicated in Fig. 1, the roll 504 on the end of the rock level engages that side of the fork to which it is nearer when the clamping table, which indirectly supports the rock lever, is swung out to the blank receiving position and in which position the roll 504 is in contact with both sides of the fork 506. The position of the fork 506 along the supporting rods 510 and 512 determines the position in which the gage for the sole blank shall be moved when the clamping tables are rotated to their blank receiving position. The heel part clamping mechanism is also provided with a gage mechanism similar to that already described as used in connection with the fore part mechanism. However, since there is no lateral displacement of the heel part clamping mechanism with respect to the frame, the gaging mechanism thereof may be mounted directly on the heel part clamping table and is otherwise substantially a duplicate of the fore part gaging mechanism except that the width abutment of the heel part, and the gage 516 for the end of the sole are not pivoted but are effectually integral with the body. The heel part gaging mechanism is operated by a rock lever 5l8whichis pivoted at its center to an extension 520 of a heel part clamping table leg by means of a stud 522 (Fig. 6). A roll 524 on the lower end of the rock lever 518 is adapted to engage a fork 526 supported by the rods 510 and 512 in a manner similar to that in which the fork 506 is supported. It is apparent from Fig. 1 that the positions of the respective gages on the heel and fore part clamping mechanism are altered to accommodate a larger or smaller sole by movements in opposite directions, and hence the forks 506 and 526 must be moved in opposite directions. To this end racks 528 and 530 are attached to the vertices of the fore and heel part gaging forks, respectively (Figs. 1 and 2), and mesh with gears 532 and 534, respectively, which are keyed to a shaft 536, to the outer end of which is fixed the lower end of a control lever 538. The shaft 536 and the gears 532 and 534 are housed in a casing 540 attached to the front portion of the central web 40 of the upper frame 42. By rotating the gears 532 and 534 by means of the control lever 538, the racks 528 and 530 are moved in opposite directions inasmuch as they mesh at opposite sides of the axis of the driving gears. It may be further noted that the gear 534 is smaller than the gear 532 by an amount proportional to the difference between the increase in width in the fore and heel parts of soles of consecutive sizes but of the same class.

The control lever 538 may be moved at any stage of the operation of the machine but acts directly to adjust the gage mechanism only when the clamping mechanism carrying the gage mechanism to be so adjusted has been swung to its blank receiving position in which the rolls 504 and 524 on the lower end of the rock levers 518 are at the lowermost part of the forks 506 and 526. Then, a movement of the control lever in either direction will result in a corresponding movement of the gages with no lost motion. If the control lever is moved to the desired position, to gage a sole of a different size from that previously operated upon, before the clamping mechanism is swung out far enough to become engaged with either side of the fork, the gages are not operated until the rolls on the rock levers engage whichever side of the forks they are nearer. As the clamping mechanisms continue to swing to their blank receiving position, the gages are operated by the rock arms, the rolls on which follow the inclination of whichever side of the forks they are in contact. Thus, it is apparent that the setting of the gage mechanism for a sole of a size different from that which is being operated upon will automatically set the gage mechanism of the latter instrumentality when it has been swung to its blank receiving position.

In order that the operator of the machine may easily adjust the control lever 538 to the proper position to gage the soles upon which a shaping operation is to be performed, a scaling device is provided from which the proper position of the lever 538 may be determined in order to gage correctly any style and any size of sole of the styles for which the scales are calibrated. To this end a style scale 542 (Fig. 15), a width scale 544 and a length scale 546 are secured to the central portion of a table 548, the width and length scales being constructed for longitudinal adjustment. In using the scaling device, the width scale is moved so that its index is opposite the graduation on the style scale which indicates the style of sole to be operated upon and is then firmly clamped to the table by means of a screw 550. The length scale is next to be moved so that its index is opposite that graduation on the width scale corresponding to the idth of the soles to be operated upon and is then clamped to the table by a screw 552. The operator then grasps the knob 544 on the end of the control lever 538 and moves it until its index 556 lies opposite to that graduation which corresponds to the length of the sole being operatedupon. Soles of the same style and width size may thus be grouped for the sake of convenience and economy and operated upon in the machine with the scales maintained in one setting, variations of length being accommodated by moving the index on the lever 538 to the graduation corresponding to the length of the sole to be operated upon. If it is desired, the positions of the width and length scales may be interchanged, in which case soles of the same style and length size but of different width sizes may be operated upon in the machine while the scales are maintained at the same setting.

The lengths and widths of soles of radically differing styles, such for example as childrens, womens and mens, may differ appreciably, and. if soles of such a group of classes are to be treated in a factory in which the illustrated machine is to be used, the scale arrangement shown in Fig. 15 is inadequate and a scale arrangement such as is illustrated in Fig. 16 is used. This scaling device comprises a style scale 558 having as many sets of style graduations as classes of soles commonly treated in the machine. This scale is fixed to the table 548. The width scale 560 is adjustably secured to the base of the table 548 and has a set of graduations corresponding to each set of style graduations on the scale 558. A length scale 562 is also adjustably secured to the table and has two slightly separated ears 564 extending from its edge adjacent to the width scale. The purpose of these ears is to obscure all of the graduations on the width scale except those that are in the set of graduations on the width scale which correspond to the style graduations against which the index 566 on the width scale has been adjusted. Thus it is apparent that when the scales are being adjusted there can be no question in the mind of the operator as to which set of width graduations are to be used in connection with any set of style graduations. The scale device illustrated in Fig. 16 is adjusted in the following manner: The width scale 560 is so moved that its index 566 is placed opposite to the desired style graduation and it may then be clamped in position by means of a screw 568. The length scale 562 is next moved so that its index 570 is opposite the desired width graduation on the width scale, and the length scale is then clamped by means of aclamping screw 572. The gages on the machine may then be adjusted as above described by moving the knob 544 so that its index 556 is opposite the graduation on the length scale corresponding to the length of the sole to be treated.

When either of .the scaling devices described above is employed, only those soles which are either of the same width size or of the same length size may be operated upon consecutively without resetting the scales. In order to obtain the advantages of the scaling device as illustrated in Fig. 16, and also to make it possibleto gage all the soles of'the same style irrespective of their width or length with one setting of the scaling device, that shown in Fig. 17 has been evolved. This device comprises a style scale 574 which is fixed to. the table 548. An adjustable length scale 5'76 is-secured to the table by means of a thumb screw and kerfed screw 578 and 580, respectively. The width scale 582 is triangular in cross-section, furnish-' ing three faces upon whicha like number of sets of width graduations may be impressed. The width scale is pivotally mounted between lugs 584 which are fixed to the upper end of the arm 538. At each vertex on one end of the width scale is a protrusion 586 which is adapted to fit within a slot (not shown) on the inner side of one lug 584 in order that the widthscale desired to be used may be held in an uppermost position. When a scale such as has just been described is used in the illustrated machine, the length scale 576 is'moved and clamped so that its index 588 is opposite the style graduation corresponding to the style of the sole to be operated upon and the control lever 538 is moved to that position in which the graduation on the width scale corresponding to the width of the sole to be operated upon is opposite to the graduation on the length scale indicating the length of the sole to be operated upon. It is apparent that with one setting of the length scale, as illustrated in Fig. 17, corresponding to the style of sole to be operated upon, all soles of that style irrespective of their width or length may be gaged in the machine by only the proper manipulation of the control lever 538. v

In order to protect the mechanism for operating the clamping tables, a guard. (not shown) may be provided. The guard, as used in the illustrated machine, is arcuate in shape and is supported at its upper edge by a pin 590 which is fixed in an upstandinglug 592 in the fore part clamping table 22. The guard is guided at one end and, centrally of the machine in a guideway 594 and at the outer side of the machine by an abutment 596, and is moved back and forth in its guideways as the clamping tables are swung back and forthrbetween the clamp ing and blank receiving positions by the pin 59% which moves with the fore part clamping table.

To prepare the illustrated machine for operating upon soles in the manner hereinbefore described, a pattern corresponding to the type of work to be operated upon is selected and the.

relative displacement of the fore and heel. part clamping mechanisms is so adjusted that the dowels 26 will fit into the recess the bottom of the pattern. The pattern is then seated on the clamping tables. The scale arrangement is next properly adjusted for the particular type of work to be lever 538 is moved so that its index is'opposite thatgraduation of the adjacent scale corresponding to the size of the sole to be operated upon. For convenience of description, let it be assumed that the parts of the machine are in the position indicated by Fig. 1. The clamping table in the right-hand side of the machine is now ready to receive a blank and the operator places a sole blank on the pattern so that the toe is in abutting relation with the finger 450 (Fig. 13) and the sides of the fore and heel parts abut the respective gages for positioning the soles widthwise of the pattern. The operator then depresses the treadle 166, connecting the source of power to the cam shaft 128 through the clutch and gear drive which has been described above. .The clamping mechanism on which the sole blank has just been placed is swung to its vertical position in which cam shaft 128 will cause the cams 282 to opcrate the conforming mechanism, which forces the shank portion of the sole blank against and about the corresponding part of the pattern. As the conforming tool is retracted from the work, the clamping mechanism lowers the clamping table with respect to the clamping jaws and, as soon as their relative movement has ceased, the clamping table is swung outwardly again to blank receiving position in which position the operator removes the sole which has just been treated and places afresh blank on the pattern. refers only to one cycle of operation of one side of the machine when a shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 14 is used. It isto be understood, however, that, during the time in which the operatoris removing a treated sole from. the pattern and replacing it with a fresh blank, the shank treating operation is being effected by the conforming mechanism in the other side of the machine. One clamping table is in the blank receiving position during substantially the same time in which the other is in the vertical position in which the sole is clamped and operated upon, and, similarly,"

swung from the clamping and operating posiblank receiving position. When thetion to its machine is used for operating upon soles for which a pattern such as that shown'in Fig. 9 is used, the operation of the machine is like that above described except mechanism is dropped relatively to the fore part clamping mechanism in order to produce a sole the shank of which is disposed obliquely to the fore part. As above stated, whether the distance between the fore and heel part clamps is to be held constant, increased or decreased upon their relative displacement is dependent upon the position of the universal connection 364. That is, if the universal connection is "in the center of the slot 366, there isno relative disoperated upon and the control- The above descriptionpattern such as that that the heel clamping placement longitudinally of the sole of the clamping mechanisms; the extent to which the clamping mechanisms are separated upon their displacement may be varied by adjusting the universal connection above its central position in the slot 366; and similarly, the extent to which the distance between the clamping mechanisms may be decreased may be varied by adjusting the universal connection 364 in the lower portion of the slot 366. The heel dropping operation occurs substantially simultaneously with the operation of the conforming mechanism to force the shank of the sole blank about the corresponding part of the pattern. Accordingly, the conforming tool is lowered simultaneously with the heel part of the pattern but at a slightly higher rate, depending upon the amount of clearance between the shank portion of the sole and the conforming tool before the heel dropping operation has commenced.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. That method of treating soles which consists in stretching the shank portion by increasing amounts across part of the width of the shank and at either side of its central longitudinal axis, and by substantially equal amounts outwardly across the remainder of the shank at either side of its longitudinal axis.

2. That method of treating soles which consists in controlling the relative position of the forepart and heel part of the sole and while 'thus controlling them stretching the shank portion lengthwise thereof throughout its heightwise extent at either side of its central longitudinal axis without stressing the axial portion lengthwise thereof.

3. That method of treating soles which consists in constraining the fore part and heel part of the sole against relative lengthwise movement, disposingthe fore part and heel part obliquely to the shank portion, and imparting a transverse curvature to the central portion of the shank without extending it.

4. That method of treating soles which consists in constraining the fore part and heel part of the sole against relative lengthwise movement, disposing them obliquely to the shank portion, and imparting a transverse curvature continuous between the fore and heel parts to the central portion of the shank.

5. That method of treating soles which consists .in bending and holding the fore .part and heel part in positions oblique tothe shank portion, and stretching the shank portion by increasing amounts across part of its width and at either side of its central longitudinal axis and by substantially equal amounts outwardly across the remainder of the shank at either side of its longitudinal axis.

6. That method of treating soles which consists in restraining movement of the fore part and heel part while held obliquely to the shank portion, stretching the marginal portion of the shank uniformly, and stretching successive increments of width at either side of the center of the shank by increasing amounts.

"7. That method of treating soles which consists in tempering the sole to be operated upon, controlling therelative position of the forepart and heel part and while thus controlling the forepart and heel part stretching the shank portion lengthwise thereof throughout its heightwise extent at either side of its central longitudinal axis without stressing the axial portion lengthwise thereof.

8. That method of treating soles which consists in tempering the sole to be operated upon, constraining the fore and heel parts against relative longitudinal movement, disposing them obliquely to the shank portion, stretching the marginal portions of the shank uniformly, and stretching successive increments of width a either side of the center thereof by increasing amounts.

9. That method of treating soles which consists in tempering the sole to be operated upon, disposing the fore and heel parts obliquely to the shank portion, stretching the marginal portions of the shank uniformly, and stretching successive increments of width at either side of the center to said marginal portions thereof by increasing amounts.

10. That method of treating soles which consists in tempering the sole to be operated upon, and stretching the shank portion by increasing amounts at either side of its center to produce a transverse curvature therein continuous be tween the fore and heel parts, and stretching the shank uniformly across a relatively narrow marginal portion to insure against splitting or cracking the edge of the shank.

11. In a machine for shaping soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole, a pattern for shaping the shank portion thereof. and means for holding the shank of the sole against the pattern whereby a transverse curvature is imparted only to the central portion of the shank.

12. In a machine for shaping soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole, a pattern for shaping the shank portion of the sole, and means for holding the shank of the sole against said pattern to impart a continuous transverse curvature to the shank, said pattern being constructed and arranged to support the axial portion of said shank thereby to prevent lengthening of the sole during the shaping operation.

13. In a machine for shaping soles, means for disposing the fore and heel parts obliquely to the shank portion, and means for imparting a transverse curvature to only the central portion of the shank.

14. In a machine for shaping soles, means for constraining the fore and heel parts of a sole against relative longitudinal movement and disposing them obliquely to the shank portion, and means for stretching the shank lengthwise at either side of the central longitudinal axis without stressing the axial portion thereof.

15. In a machine for shaping soles, a pattern, and means cooperating therewith to stretch the shank portion of a sole by increasing amounts across part of the width of the shank and at eitherside of its central longitudinal axis and by substantially equal amounts outwardly across the remainder of the shank at either side of its longitudinal axis.

16. In a machine for shaping soles, means for disposing the fore and heel parts obliquely to the shank portion, a pattern, and means coopcrating therewith to stretch the shank portion of a sole by increasing amounts across part of the width of the shank and at either side of its central longitudinal axis and by substantially equal amounts outwardly across the remainder of the: shank axis. 7

17. In a machine for shaping soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole, means at either side of its longitudinal for displacing the heel part clamprelatively to the fore part clamp, a pattern, andmeans cooperating therewith to stretch the shank portion 01 the sole by increasing amounts across part of the width of the shank and at either side of its central longitudinal axis and by substantially equal amounts outwardly across the remainder of the shank at either side of its longi tudinal axis.

18. In a machine for shaping soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole, means for relatively displacing said clamps whereby the shank portion is disposed obliquely to the fore and heel parts, a pattern, and means cooperating therewith to stretch the shank portion of the sole by increasing amounts across part of the width of the shank and at either side of its central longitudinal axis and by substantially equal amounts outwardly across the remainder of. the shank at either side of its longitudinal axis.

.19. In amachine for shaping soles, means for clamping the foreand heel part portions of a sole, a pattern for shaping the shank disposed between said clamps, and means cooperating with the pattern to hold the shank about the pattern whereby the shank portion is stretched by increasing amounts at either side of the center to produce a transverse curvature therein continuous between the fore and heel parts and uniformly across a relatively narrow marginal portion to insure against splitting or cracking of the edge of the shank.

20. In a machine for shaping soles, clamping means for disposing the fore and heel parts obliquely to the shank portion, a pattern supported by said means, and means cooperating with the pattern 1to'sti'etch the shank portion of a sole by increasing amounts across part of the width of the shank and at either side of its central longitudinal axis and by substantially equal amounts'outwardly across.the remainder of the shank at either side of its longitudinal axis.

. 21. In a machine for shaping soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole, means for displacing the heel part clamp relatively to the fore part clamp, a pattern supported by said clampingmeans, and. means cooperating with the pattern to stretch the shank portion of the sole by increasing amounts across part of the width'of the shank and at either. side of its central longitudinal axis and by substantially equal amounts outwardly across the remainder of the shank at eitherside of its longitudinal axis.

22. In a machine for shaping soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole, means for relatively displacing said clamps whereby the shank portionis disposed obliquely to the fore and heel part portions, a pattern supported by said clamping means, and means. cooperating therewith to stretch the shank portion of the sole by increasing amounts across part of the width of the shankfand at either side'of its central longitudinal axis and by substantially equal amounts outwardly across the remainder of the shank at either side of its longitudinal axis.

23. In a machine for treating soles, a pattern for forming the shank portion of a sole having a convex work'engaging face bordered by a surface substantially parallel to a surface tangent to the convex face of the pattern.

24. In a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the foreand heel parts of a sole, means for relatively displacing the clamps in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the clamping faces, and a pattern comprising a shank element extending between the fore and heelpart elements and pivotally connected to one of them.

25.1n a machine for operating upon soles, plural means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole mounted for movements relatively to each other in mutually transverse directions, and means for imparting said relative movements to said. clamping means simultaneously and in predetermined timed relation to each other.

26. In a machine for operating upon soles, means for clamping thefore and heel parts of a solemounted for movements relatively to each other in mutually transverse directions, means for relatively moving said clamping means in one direction, and. means operated by ,the relative movement of the clamping means in the said one direction for moving them relatively to each other in the other direction.

27. In a machine for operating upon soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole mounted for movements relatively to each other in different directions, means for moving the foreand heel part clamping means relatively to each other in one direction in order to make the angular relation between the shank and the fore and heel parts the same as it is to be in the finished shoe, and means connecting said fore and heel part clamping means operated by the above-mentioned relative movement to cause them to be relatively moved in the other direction.

28. In amachine for operating upon 'soles, means forclamping the fore and heel partsJof a sole, each of said clamping means being mounted for movement in a, direction transverse to the movement of the other, means for moving said heel part clamping means relatively to the forepart clamping means. to give the shank of the sole and the fore and heel parts such an angular relation as they are to have in the finished shoe, and means connecting the clamping means for moving the forepart clamping means a predetermined amount relatively to the heel part clamping means.

29'.'In a machine for operating upon soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole mounted for movements in paths transverse to each other, means for moving the heel part clamping means relatively to the forepart clamping means to make the angular relation between the shank and the clamped parts the same as it is to be in the finished shoe, and connections between the fore and heel part clamping means constructed and arranged to move the forepart clamping means toward the path of the heel part clamping means as the latter is moved.

30. In a machine for operating upon soles,

means for clamping the fore and heel parts'of a sole, each of said clamping means being mounted for movement in a path extending transversely of the path of the other, means for moving themeans toward-the path of the heel part clamping means as the latter is moved.

31. In a machine for operating upon soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole mounted for movement relatively to each other in mutually transverse directions, means for relatively moving the clamping means in one direction to give the shank of the sole and the fore and heel parts such an angular relation as they are to have in the finished shoe, and a link connecting said clamping means and operated by the relative movement of the clamping means in the said one direction for moving them relatively in the other direction.

32. In a machine for operating upon soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole each of which is mounted for movement in a path which extends transversely of the path of the other, and means for controlling the relative movement of said clamping means comprising a link mounted with respect to said heel part clamping means for adjustment in a direction transverse to the path of movement of the forepart clamping means.

33. In a machine for operating upon soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole, each of said clamping means being mounted for movement extending transversely of the path of the other, a link pivotally connecting said fore and heel part clamping means and mounted for adjustment with respect to the heel part clamping means transversely with respect to the path of movement of the forepart clamping means, and means for relatively moving the clamping means so as to give the shank the same relation to the fore and heel parts of the sole as it is to have in the finished shoe.

34. In a machine for operating upon soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of the sole, each of said clamping means being mounted for movement in a path extending transversely to the path of the other, a link one end of which ismounted for adjustment with respect to the forepart clamping means in the direction of its movement and the other end of which is mounted for adjustment with respect to the heel part clamping means in substantially its direction of movement with respect to the forepart clamping means, and means for moving said clamping means relatively to each other so as to give the shank the same angular relation with respect to the fore and. heel parts as it is ,to have in the finished shoe.

, 35. In a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the fore part of a sole, means for clamping the heel part, and means for relatively displacing said means by rotation while they are maintained in parallelism and while clamping the sole.

36. In a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the fore part of a sole, means for clamping the heel part, and means for relatively displacing said means while maintaining them in parallelism by relative rotation about a plurality of axes while in clamped position.

37. In a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the fore part of a sole, means for clamping the heel part, and means for relatively displacing said clamping means in parallelism by rotation about a' plurality of axes simultaneously while clamping a sole.

'38. Ina machine fortreating soles, means for clamping the forepart of a sole, means for clamping the heel part, and means for relatively displacing said means in parallelism by relative rotation about two axes parallel and perpendicular, respectively, to the direction of motion of the heel part clamp.

39. In a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the fore part of a sole, means for clamping the heel part, and means for relatively displacing said means in parallelism by relative rotation about two mutually perpendicular axes.

40.111 a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the heel part of a sole, and an adjustable clamp for the fore part thereof constructed and arranged to be swung about an axis perpendicular to its work engaging face to accommodate various lengths of soles.

41. In a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the heel part of a sole, and an adjustable clamp for the fore part thereof constructed and arranged to be swung about an axis perpendicular to its work engaging face and to be held in a relation of parallelism to the heel part clamp throughout the range of its adjustability.

42. In a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the fore part of a sole, means for clamping the heel part of the sole, and means connecting said clamps whereby the distance therebetween may be increased, held constant or decreased as the heel part clamp is displaced in a direction substantially perpendicular to the face of the fore part clamp.

43. In a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the fore part of a sole, means for clamping the heel part of the sole, and means connecting said clamps whereby the distance therebetween may be increased, held constant, or decreased as the heel part clamp is displaced from a position of alinement with the fore part clamp in a direction substantially perpendicular to the face of the fore part clamp.

44. In a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole, said means being relatively rotatable in the plane of the sole, and means for adjustably limiting the distance between said clamping means in accordance with the length of the sole to be operated upon.

45. In a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the fore and heel part of a sole, means for relatively displacing said clamping means, and means adjustably connected to each of said clamps for limiting the distance therebetween as they are displaced.

46. In a machine for treating soles, means for clamping the fore and heel parts of a sole, said clamping means being relatively rotatable in the plane of the sole, and relatively movable in parallelism to cause theshank portion of the sole to be ang'ularly disposed with respect to the fore and heel parts thereof, and means for controlling both of the above-mentioned relative move;

ments adjustably connecting said fore and heel part clamping means. i n

47. In a machine for shaping soles, a shaping tool comprising a body portion having an abutment, a conforming element, resilient means arranged to hold said conforming tool in engagement with said abutment, and means pivotally connecting said body portion and said conforming element.

48. In a machine for shaping soles, a shaping tool comprising a body portion and a conforming element arranged to rock about a fulcrum on said body portion, means for yie'ldingly holding said conforming element against said ful- 

